Conservationist and TV presenter Simon Cowell, who hosted the show Wildlife SOS, has died at the age of 72.

Cowell “passed away peacefully” on Sunday surrounded by his daughters, his partners and his dogs after a “brave battle with cancer”, said the Wildlife Aid Foundation, which he founded.

Paying tribute, the charity called him “one of the UK’s respected conservationists” who was a “passionate advocate for wildlife protection and environmental causes”.

It said he “dedicated his life to British wildlife” and “worked tirelessly” to make sure injured and orphaned animals were given a second chance in the wild through rescue, clinical treatment, and rehabilitation.

“He campaigned relentlessly to raise awareness of the plight of wildlife and the importance of all species,” said the charity.

In its statement, the Wildlife Aid Foundation also said Cowell started rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in his home and garden in the early 1980s as a “distraction” from his job as a broker in London.

His hobby later became a full-time job and he set up Wildlife Aid charity, now the Wildlife Aid Foundation, in 1987.

Cowell was known for creating and presenting the television series Wildlife SOS for Channel 5 and appearing on Animal Planet on Discovery in the 1990s.

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In July 2022, Cowell shared his terminal lung cancer diagnosis through his charity.

And the foundation began an appeal in aid of a new wildlife centre for the organisation.

The appeal, called Simon’s Last Wish, has raised more than £650,000.

The centre will feature habitats including wetland and woodland for wildlife to make their homes in, viewing platforms, a visitor’s centre and a new wildlife hospital.

Cowell was made an MBE for services to wildlife in 2005.

He leaves two daughters, Louisa and Gemma, his partner Stana, and his two beloved dogs, Toby and Bobby.

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